Pac-Man World is a 3D platform video game. Controlling Pac-Man, the player must complete each of the game's six worlds to rescue his family and friends, who are held captive by the ghosts in their homeland of Ghost Island.[4] Worlds consist of four levels each (except the Ruins world, which has three), which are completed by reaching the end of each level, sometimes requiring special doors and pathways to be opened along the way. The final level of each world has a boss that Pac-Man must defeat in order to progress.[4] At the beginning of the game, only three worlds are available, while the other three are unlocked by completing all prior worlds.[4] The six worlds in the game each feature distinctive themes, e.g. the first world, Pirate, features ships, cannons, and beaches.[4]